Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-01-12
General Walker on the State Debt.

General James A. Walker of Pulaski, ex,
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, in refer
ence to the State debt, says:
~ am not in sympathy with the democra-
tic party of Virginia at present on the debt
question. Oace it was the debt paying
party" as it called itself; the 'funder party,
as called by its opponents. 1t denounced
| the settlement proposed by the Riddeber-
ger bill as unconstitutional aud unjust; as
repudiaiion of ten millions Of our just debt
Having been beaten before the people, they
agreed to accept that measure and give it
| fair trial. That it was unconstitutiona! and
would never be sustained by the courts, was
believed and argued from the Hastings by
| all the leading democratic speakers-and
! the result has proved they were right. Oae
| of the worst mistakes the party ever made
was to adopt the financial measure they
| had previously denounced as unwi5e unjust
| to the creditors, and unconstitutional rs an
article of party faith, and then pledge
| themselves to carry out in good faith what
| they had neither approved Of as just nor ac-
uuiesced in as practical. The Riddeber-
ger settlement having failed 10 settle the
| debt las ail sound thinking men knew it
would), having been pronounced unconsti.
tutional by the courts Of last resort, good
faith, party tactics, and patriotism, all re-
nuired that the measure should be abandon.
ed by the party Having kept faith by Civ
ing it q fair trial, we should have sought
new terms Of settlement with our creditors,
and one which they would be willing to ac-
cept Instead of this, the party has tied it.
self to the fate Of the Riddeberger bill, ard
clings to its dead carcass as if it were flesh
of its flesh and bone of its bone
Fer the sake Of this cucSoo's egg-the par
| ty from its proud position as the debt pay
| er's' party-from is loud boast Of being the
party 10 uphold the plighted faith and pub
lie credit of the State, has allowed itself to
drift insensibly into the channel of repudia-
ton, and prominent democratic statesmen
and leading democratic journals threaten
the creditors with the alternative of accept
ing the so. called Riddleberger settlement or
downright reputation. And this, too,
comes from democrats, who, ten years ago,
| would have held such language to be
treason to party faith. But reputation
is . monster of such hideous mion
AS to be hated, needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with its face,
We first endure-then pity-thcn embrace
Scan any one doubt where this policy ofnul-
lifying the decisions of our courts and sett-
ing at defiance the laws of the land VIII
lead? There is but one destination, aad
that is reputation of The State debt and the
tota! destruction of the credit Of her citizens
at homo and abroad The last General As
sembly of Virginia, in its desire to carry out
the Riddeberger bill, passed every measure
to effect its purpose which suggested itself
to its members, but they have all been
found insuficient-not from any want of skill
or wisdom in that body, but from the impossible
ties they attempted to accomplish. Having failed
before the courts l am in favor of accepting the
law as expounded by the courts of last resort, and
yielding obedience in good faith to their man
dates for the all-suicient reason, that it is The
lar and the law is the foundation on which rests
the whole social fabric To destroy the law is to
destroy property liberty and all civil rights 1t
is dangerous for political party to teach con-
tempt for, and encourage disobedience to law. 1t
invites mobocracy and anarchy. For these rea-
sons l am in favor of accepting the decisions of
the courts as conclusive of the question that con
pons are receivable in payment of all debts, taxes
and demands due the State'-and receiving them
in good falkland Of abandoning the Riddle
berger bill, and etfecting such settlement With
the creditors as will be acceptable to them That
A fair and Just settlement can be made with them
we are assured by the best authority. Let us
make that settlement and cease TO coquettc with
reputation, before we fall in love with her Sc
ductiye FORM